Google Ads News! Google is killing message extensions, but there is a perfect alternative already available.
Starting from this month (January 2020), Google is disabling one of Google Ads’ features – message extensions.
The message extensions were used to add an opportunity for users to text the business directly from the ad, with two options for the advertiser on where to receive a message – on the phone or using email forwarding.
It will no longer be possible to create this type of extensions but, for those who already have it activated in the accounts, you needn’t worry! All the statistics regarding the previous use of message extensions will still be available until December 2020.
So, what is the alternative? Fortunately, Google has something prepared for us. In the notification sent out on the discontinuing of message extensions, that most Google Ads accounts are receiving now, Google itself suggests to try either the call extensions (a feature that already exists in Google Ads for a long time and that allows users to make a phone call directly from the ad) or the new lead form extensions.
The lead form extension is a fairly new feature and not la lot of advertisers are using it. That’s why this is the perfect moment to implement it and get ahead of your competition.
The lead form extension does exactly what its name suggests: it allows users to submit a contact form directly from the ad.
The lead form extension has three customisable elements:
- First, you need to choose how the extension will look under your ad – you choose the call-to-action and the text.
- Secondly, you need to customise the lead form that opens if a user clicks on the lead extension – you get to fill in a headline and a description, your business name, upload a background image and also choose which information you are going to collect (you may choose between name, email, phone number and postal code). Additionally, you also can provide a link to your privacy policy, which is especially important to European users.
- Finally, you also get to choose what to display on the submission message screen – you can add a link to your website with a call-to-action, or give users a link to download something as a “present” for filling in the lead form.
Facebook Ads have similar lead forms in their advertising for some time and it is proven to be quite a valid way to collect leads, as long as you have enough budget for the ads to keep going.
We are very excited and looking forward to experimenting more with Google Ads lead form extensions, to see which platform will work better for which type of business. And what about you? Are you implementing this new extension in your campaigns?
For more information, bespoke strategies and efficient digital marketing solutions, just contact the Clarity’s girls through info@yourdigitalclarity.com or visit our website at www.yourdigitalclarity.com.
